Energy
FG Approved 28 New Oil Field Plans Worth $18.2bn in 2025 — Minister
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has disclosed that Nigeria approved 28 new Field Development Plans (FDPs) valued at $18.2 billion, unlocking an estimated 1.4 billion barrels of crude oil reserves in 2025 alone.
Lokpobiri disclosed this on Tuesday at the official opening of the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) by President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice-President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Lokpobiri said the transformation of the sector under Tinubu’s administration marked a decisive break from years of declining production, stalled investments, and capital flight.
He said, “Between 2024 and 2025, four of the seven major Final Investment Decisions announced across Africa were in Nigeria, a development attributed to policy clarity, consistent governance, and deliberate leadership.”
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Lokpobiri said it repositioned the petroleum sector as a globally competitive and investment-ready destination following far-reaching reforms that have revived production, restored investor confidence, and unlocked billions of dollars in new investments.
“Our investment climate in Nigeria allows for free movement of capital. In line with Global best practice, companies can invest and divest at will.
“We recently enabled International Oil Companies (IOCs) to transfer onshore and shallow water assets to capable Nigerian companies. From Shell to Renaissance, ExxonMobil to Seplat, Eni to Oando.
“These are not just transfers of assets; they are transfers of confidence, capability, and ownership, which have resulted in an additional 200,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd).
“These divestments were stalled for several years, but with the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we were able to advance them and conclude them in record time, leading to the gains made by their new operators for the benefit of all,” he said.
On the downstream segment, he said the removal of fuel subsidies had stabilised the market and improved product availability, while commending indigenous investors such as Dangote and BUA for expanding refining and midstream infrastructure.
He disclosed that licensing processes in the sector had been liberalised to ensure transparency and fairness, while Nigeria’s newly launched West African Reference Market was designed to position the country as the refining hub for the Gulf of Guinea and the wider African region.
On continental outlook, Lokpobiri said Africa spent over 120 billion dollars annually on hydrocarbon imports, describing the figure as a significant drain on the continent’s economy.
He called for greater support for the African Energy Bank, headquartered in Nigeria, to mobilise capital for Africa-focused energy development.
He said Africa’s energy strategy must prioritise availability, accessibility, and affordability, adding that global energy outlooks from the International Energy Agency and OPEC confirm that fossil fuels will remain dominant in the foreseeable future.
“The story of Nigeria’s petroleum sector is being rewritten,” Lokpobiri said, urging global investors to partner with Nigeria not just as financiers, but as long-term collaborators in driving Africa’s energy-led growth.
“The full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act has provided a stable fiscal framework, improved licensing processes, strengthened regulation, protected host communities, and ensured predictable contractual terms,” he said.
He added that the Upstream Petroleum Operations (Cost Efficiency Incentives) Order 2025 has further enhanced competitiveness by reducing production costs through targeted tax credits.
Lokpobiri highlighted the success of Project One Million Barrels, inaugurated in October 2024, which has increased national crude oil production to between 1.7 and 1.83 million bpd, representing an incremental rise of about 300,000 bpd within a year.
He also disclosed that the number of active drilling rigs had risen sharply from 14 in 2023 to over 60, signaling renewed industry activity.
The minister said international investor confidence had returned, citing major FIDs including Shell’s five billion dollars Bonga North project, TotalEnergies’ 550 million dollars Ubeta project, Shell’s two billion dollars HI project, and Chevron’s 1.8 billion dollars investment in the Panther project.
He further revealed that Shell had announced plans for a 20 billion dollars FID, with additional projects expected in the near term.
NAN
The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has completed the turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, leading to resumption of production at Nigeria’s premier deepwater field on March 6, 2026.
Biztellers reports that the project was delivered 11 days ahead of schedule and without any safety incident, reinforcing SNEPCo’s longstanding commitment to operational excellence and asset integrity.
“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the helpful support of our partners,” SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams said. “The achievement not only secures the long‑term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions us strongly for the successful delivery of the Bonga North project, which will leverage the improved reliability of the FPSO.”
The exercise which began on February 1, 2026, highlights SNEPCo’s leading role in advancing deep‑water expertise in Nigeria. Of the 55 companies involved in the execution, 43 were wholly Nigerian. Additionally, eight of the 12 international service providers maintain operational bases in Nigeria, contributing to knowledge transfer and increased local investments.
More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the turnaround, with over 95% being Nigerians involved in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection and construction. Thousands more supported activities from onshore locations, reflecting the depth of Nigerian capability in offshore oil and gas operations.
Adams added: “We acknowledge the support of several stakeholders towards the successful execution of the exercise, including the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and our partners.”
Modupe Asudo
Sahara Group, a leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has commissioned MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000‑cubic‑metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, expanding its fleet capacity, while strengthening Ghana’s clean energy supply chain and LPG distribution network.
The dual‑fuel vessel improves operational efficiency, enhances supply reliability, and supports lower‑emission LPG logistics as consumption grows across Ghana and the wider sub‑region.
Ghanaian President Mahama and Sahara Executive Directors
Speaking at the commissioning in Ulsan, South Korea, President John Dramani Mahama described the vessel as “a significant milestone in strengthening the infrastructure that underpins the global LPG supply chain,” noting that expanded shipping capacity is critical to improving supply security, reliability and efficiency for countries that rely partly on LPG imports.
He commended Sahara Group, WAGL Energy and all partners involved for their “leadership, technical expertise and strategic foresight,” adding that the project reflects “the power of partnership” in advancing safe, efficient, and responsible energy distribution.
President Mahama wished the MT Asharami Ghana safe sails, expressing confidence that the vessel would inspire further investment and collaboration across Africa’s energy value chain.
According to Wale Ajibade, Executive Director, Sahara Group, the vessel supports Ghana’s clean energy ambitions through integrated infrastructure.
“MT Asharami Ghana is more than a vessel; it is part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen LPG supply security and support Ghana’s clean energy ambitions. It secures an additional 25,000-Metric-tonne stock security for the Ghana economy, alongside the soon to be commissioned 6000-metric-tonee of 12.000-metric-tonne land storage in Tema,” he said.
With the addition of Asharami Ghana, Sahara Group’s LPG carrier fleet now comprises six delivered vessels with a combined capacity of 202,000 cubic metres. Supported by partnerships with WAGL Energy, NNPC Limited and other stakeholders, an additional 270,000 cubic metres of capacity is under construction and due for delivery by September 2028.
Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, said Asharami Ghana is part of Sahara’s integrated LPG infrastructure strategy spanning shipping, storage, and downstream distribution globally, including the development of a 12,000‑metric‑tonne land‑based LPG storage terminal in Tema, with a 6,000‑metric‑tonne first phase scheduled for completion in May 2026.
He thanked Yaa Serwaa Alifo, MD of Asharami Ghana, for her resilience and insistence to dedicate a ship of “this magnitude solely to the Ghana Market and its landlocked neighbours.”
Ghana is targeting LPG adoption of 50 per cent of households by 2030, up from about 30 per cent today. Sahara’s investments will support clean energy access for more than 35 million people, while strengthening Ghana’s role in regional LPG trade to neighbouring and landlocked West African markets.
The commissioning comes in Sahara Group’s 30th anniversary year, guided by the Sahara Beyond XXX milestone, underscoring Sahara’s focus on building an enduring enterprise that delivers responsible growth, shared prosperity and long‑term impact across its markets.
Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped to 1.31 million barrels per day in February, even as local refineries continue to grapple with inadequate domestic crude supply needed to sustain operations.
The development shows that Nigeria again failed to meet its crude oil production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day approved by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as output declined sharply in February 2026.
Data from OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report, based on direct communication from member countries, showed that Nigeria produced 1.314 million barrels per day in February, down from 1.459 mbpd recorded in January.
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The figures indicate a month-on-month decline of 146,000 barrels per day, widening the country’s shortfall from its OPEC production allocation.
Nigeria’s inability to meet its OPEC production quota is not only affecting its oil export earnings but also adversely impacting domestic refineries that are starved of feedstock for their operations.
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